**Question:** Behaviour therapy is useful in - a) Psychosis, b) OCD, c) Personality disorder, d) Panic attack, e) Anxiety

**Core Concept:** Behaviour therapy is a type of psychotherapy that aims to modify maladaptive behaviors by cognitive, behavioral, and/or social skills training. It is a non-pharmacological approach to treat various psychiatric disorders.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right:**

Correct Answer: d) Panic Attack

Behaviour therapy is useful in treating panic attacks due to its focus on cognitive and behavioral techniques to modify maladaptive responses to panic triggers. By addressing irrational fears and promoting relaxation techniques, behavioural therapy aims to reduce the severity and frequency of panic attacks. In panic disorders, patients often develop avoidance behaviors due to fear of having another attack, which contributes to the vicious cycle of panic. Behaviour therapy helps to break this cycle by confronting and challenging these fears.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**

a) Psychosis: Behaviour therapy is not primarily used in treating psychosis, which is characterized by delusions and hallucinations. Psychosis typically requires antipsychotic medications and psychopharmacology management.

b) OCD: Although behaviour therapy can be part of comprehensive treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), pharmacotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is usually the first-line treatment for OCD.

c) Personality disorders: Behaviour therapy is an effective treatment for specific disorders, but it is not the primary approach for personality disorders, which often require a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy targeting different psychopathological features.

e) Anxiety: Behaviour therapy is indeed useful in managing anxiety disorders, but pharmacotherapy, particularly with benzodiazepines or SSRIs, is also employed to provide additional symptom relief and manage the severity of anxiety symptoms.

**Clinical Pearl:**

Panic disorder is a common anxiety disorder characterized by sudden and intense fear attacks with symptoms like palpitations, sweating, and nausea. Behaviour therapy, specifically exposure therapy, is a cornerstone of treatment for panic disorder. Exposure therapy involves gradually exposing the patient to the feared stimuli or situations, allowing them to confront and overcome their fears, ultimately reducing panic attacks and associated symptoms. This approach complements pharmacotherapy, particularly the use of benzodiazepines or beta-blockers in the short term, and SSRIs in the long term to manage the condition. Understanding the role of behaviour therapy in managing anxiety disorders and panic attacks will help medical students and practicing physicians select the most appropriate treatment approach for their patients.